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Play and art are alike in that both activities appear superficially
at any rate>to lack the compulsion associated with biological
necessity. We seem not to have to play in order to survivé; nor are
we obviously compelled to paint pictures, compose music, or sculpt
statues. Although one can imagine that a man might be forced by
S.
another to create sómething, it is generally true that art is a
voluntary activity, and that creativity_flourishes best (in the absence
of compulsion. The same is true óf play. \For, although one might
compel a child to play a game\against his will, the game will
straightaway lose one of the characteristics)that makes(it play.
If it is accepted that both play and art are essentiarty voluntary, it
follows that both are generally( 2 )activites. | Although games.
can be turned into ways of makinga living by those who are
particularly skilful players, (hey do not originate in this way.
Although creative productionv may turn out to be financially
rewarding, men do not primarily engage in it for the sake of financial
gain. Both games and werks,of art stand somewhat outside the
ordinary course of life, and 'do not appear to be associated with the
immediate satisfaction of wants and appetites. The idea that a
novelist, for example, could sit down and write a popular romance
for cash with her tongue in her cheek is almost certainly( 3 ).